8 research-backed do’s and don’ts that will improve your sex life

Women’s magazines wax poetic about spicing up your bedroom life in practically every issue, offering the same recycled sex tips year after year. So for a better sex education, we’re giving you the science of what will really improve your sex life, while keeping it safe. Which scandalous acts are certifiably safe and which techniques are potentially hazardous? And most importantly: Which ones really work? Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we explore safe sex with eight do’s and don’ts.

DON’T have sex underwater:
One of the most common fantasies among men and women alike is knocking boots underwater. Whether it is the bathtub, hot tub, at the beach, or in a public pool, it is impossible to deny the appeal of a slippery session. But let us be the first to warn you that having sex underwater is a dangerous idea.

Let’s talk about location. Swimming pools contain chlorine, which will inevitably work its way into the uterus and fallopian tubes. This leads to a significantly increased risk of infection and damage to the reproductive system. Salt water is right out for the same reason. Perhaps you think your home water supply is better, but according to the Global Healing Center, your own supply likely contains pesticide and chemical runoff, chlorine, and heavy metals including lead. Besides, submersion in water makes condoms less effective.

Instead, try shower sex. As long as water is running and neither of you are submerged, this compromise should be able to quell any water-based sexual desires.

DO realize that your diet and medications effect taste and smell:
Food, medication, and alcohol play a large role in how your sexual fluids taste and smell. Dr. Carol Queen, Ph.D, and Staff Sexologist at Good Vibrations, explains, “People tend to notice the strongest differences in people who eat lots of meat–the reason has to do with the breakdown products of proteins in the body.” This is precisely why people swear they have a less noticeable odor and taste if they eat a diet full of fruit like papaya and pineapple as opposed to bitter veggies like asparagus and garlic.

Dr. Queen also notes that, “Not only foods, but also medications can make a difference in the scent/flavor of vaginal juices, semen, and sweat. Certain meds…may impart some of their chemical constituents into these body fluids.” If you are concerned about it, we suggest sticking to a mostly vegetarian and fruit-rich diet. Anti-bacterial soaps, perfume, and douching can upset the vagina’s pH balance and cause infection.